Process of degumming



Patented Apr; 16, 1929.

UNITE]? STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE HOLLAND ELLIS, F SPONDQN, NEAR DEQBY, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO .CELA-NESE CORPORATION-0F AMERICA, A GOBPORATION OF DELAWARE.

Pnoonss or DEGUMMING.

1V0 Drawing. Application filed. November 30, 1925, Serial No. 72,420,and in Great Britain October 30, 1925.

This invention concerns a process for degumming natural silk in yarns orfabrics or other goods, whether consistlng wholly thereof or containingit mixed or associated w th 5 fibres or yarns of any other material ormaterials. -All .such goods are hereinafter; 1n the claims included inthe term materials comprising natural silk. The invention 1s applicablewith especial advantages to degumming natural Sllk in yarns or fabricsor other goods containing 1t mlxed or associated with cellulose acetateyarns, filaments ,or fibres, and it will be described chiefly in thisconnection.

In degunnning. natural silk goods containing it mixed or associated withcellulose acetate,diflicultyhas been experienced owing to thedetrimental effect of the usual degumming baths or treatment upon thelustre and quality of the cellulose acetate filaments,

fibres or yarns present.

By the process of the present invention, this difliculty can be overcomeand (legummin'g'of'the natural silk in such goods can 25 besatisfactorily efi'ected without injury to .s the cellulose acetatefibres, filament-s or yarns present therein. t

The process of the invention can also be employed with advantage fordegumming natural silk in yarns or fabrics consisting wholly thereof orconsisting of natural silk mixed or associated with cotton, linen, wool,artificial silks of the cellulose type orother fibres or filaments thancellulose acetate.

According to the present invention the goods consisting of or containingthe silk are impregnated with, that is to-say treated .with a strongaqueous solution of one or more sulpho-fatty acids or their alkali orammonium salts, such for instance as are contained in the familiarsulphonated or sulphated oils of commerce represented-by Tum ey redoils, Monopol oils, oleines etc. to

which have been preferably added one or more alkali silicates,carbonates, or borates, such as sodium silicate or sodium carbonate,

. soda ash or borax. These latter substances are all of the same type,having a moderate 3 or weak alkaline reaction, and they are all'hereinafter in the claims designated by the term inorganic alkalinesalt. After standing for some time the goods are scoured with a solutionof soap to which may be likewise added with advantage one or more alkalisilicates, carbonates or borates.

Letters Patent is Incarrying out the invention the goods may beimpregnated at a suitable temper-' ature, for instance at about 75C.,,wit-h a strong-aqueous solution of one r more of the aforesaidsulpho fatty aci s or the alkali or ammonium salts, to which sodiumsilicate, sodium carbonate, soda ash, borax or otheralkali silicates,carbonates or borates .have been added, and after being'left for somehours the goods may be scoured off in a soap-bath containing sodiumsilicate, sodium carbonate, soda ash or other alkall silicates,carbonates or borates. If

degumming is not as complete as desired, the

The goods to be treated, for example woven fabric the warp ofwhich iscellulose acetate yarn and the weft of real silk in the gum areimpregnated in a suitable manner such as by means of 2. padding machineor mangle at about 75 C. with a commercial Turkey red oil of a strengthrepresented by about 4050% fatty acids to which sodium silicateto theextentof 10 grms. per litre of the oilhas been added. The goods are wellsqueezed by the nip of the mangle until they contain about 40-50% oftheir weight of the alkaline oilprepa-ration. They are then left piledor rolled up overnight and scoured ofi twice next day, each scouringbeing for about 1 hr. in a bath containing 5 grms. per litre soap and0.3 grms. per litre sodium silicate at about 75 C. A satisfactory dischargeof the silk gum is thus obtainable with no noticeable deleteriouseffect upon the cellulose acetate component in the goods.

What I claim and desire to secure by Process for degumming materialscomprising natural silk, which consists in subjecting the goodskto theaction of a liquid comprising a strong aqueous solution of asulpho-fatty acid salt of a monovalent inorganic base and subsequentlyscouring the goods with a solution comprising a soap..

2. Process for degumming materials comprising natural silk, whichconsists in subprising natural silk and cellulose acetate 1 whichconsists in subjecting the goods to the action of a liquid comprising astrong aqueous solution of a sulpho-fatty acid salt of a monovalentinorganic base and subsequently scouring the goods with a solutioncomprising a soap. 1

4;. Process for, degumming materials comprising natural silk andcellulose acetate which consists in subjecting the goods to the actionof a liquid comprising a strong aqueous solution of sodium salt ofsulphoricinoleic acid and subsequently scouring the goods with asolution comprising a soap.

5. Process for degununing materials comprising natural silk, whichconsists in subjecting the goods to the action of aliquid comprising aninorganic alkaline salt and a strong aqueous solution of a sulpho-fattyacid body, and subsequently scouring the goods with a solutioncomprising a soap and an inorganic alkaline salt.

6. Process for degumming materials comprising natural silk, whichconsists in subjecting the goods to the action of a liquid comprising aninorganic alkaline salt and a strong aqueous solution of a sulpho-fattyacid salt of a monovalent inorganic base, and subsequently scouring thegoods with a solution comprising a soap and an inorganic alkaline salt.

7. Process for dcgumming materials comprising natural silk, whichconsists l]1 Sl1 l) jccting the goods to the action of a liquidcomprising an inorganic alkaline salt and a. strong aqueous solution ofsodium salt of sulphoricinoleic acid. and subsequently scouring thegoods with a solution comprising a soap and an inorganic alkallne salt.

8. Process for degumming materials comprising natural silk and celluloseacetate,

- which consists in subjecting the goods to the action of a liquidcomprising an inorganic alkaline salt and a strong aqueous solution of asulpho-fatty acid body and subsequently scouring the goods with asolution comprising .a soap and an inorganic alkaline salt.

9. Process for degumming materials comprising natural silk and celluloseacetate, which consists in subjecting the goods to the action of aliquid comprising an inorganic alkaline salt and a strong a ueoussolution of a sulpho-fatty acid salt 0 a monovalent inorganic base, and,subsequently scouring the goods with a solution comprising a soap and aninorganic alkaline salt.

10. Process for degumming materials comprising natural silk andcellulose acetate, which consists in subjecting the goods to the actionof a liquid comprising an inorganic alkaline salt and a strong aqueoussolution of sodium salt of sulphoricino leic acid, and subsequentlyscouring the goods with a solution comprising a soap and an inorganicalkaline salt.

11. Process for degumming materials comprising natural silk andcellulose acetate, which consists in subjecting the goods to the actionof a liquid comprising an alkali silicate and a strong aqueous solutionof a sulpho-fat-ty acid body, and subsequently scouring the goods with asolution comprising a soap and alkali silicate.

12. Process for degumming materials comprising natural silk andcellulose acetate, which consists in subjecting the goods to the actionof a liquid comprising an alkali silicate and a strong aqueous solutionof a sulpho-fatty acid salt of a monovalent inorganic base, andsubsequently scouring the goods with a solution comprising a soap and analkali silicate.

13. Process for degumming materials com.- prising natural silk andcellulose acetate which consists in subjecting the goods to the actionof a liquid comprising analkali silicate and a strong aqueous solutionof sodium salt of sulphoricinoleic acid and subsequently scouring thegoods with a solution comprising a soap and an alkali silicate.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

GEORGE HOLLAND ELLIS.

